"Pray you, desire Mistress Frideswide to come hither, for I would fain have speech of her."
She came, and stood courtesying within the doorway.
"Come nigh, I pray you, Mistress," said the Duke, "and tell me, is this fair dame of your kin?"
He held up her letter to Agnes, as he spoke.
"An' it like you, aye, my gracious Lord: it is my sister, that is chamberer unto your Lady."
The Duke looked thoughtfully at the letter.
"Think not my words strange," said he, "but answer me, if this your good sister be of gent and pitying kind?"
"That is she, right surely."
"One that should do a kind deed for a man in need, an' it fell in her way?"
"I am assured of that, my gracious Lord."